On February 16, 2023, Norway's National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Økokrim) announced that it has seized NOK 60 million ($5.85 million) worth of stolen digital currency linked to the Ronin Bridge hack of Axie Infinity that occurred in March. The recovery of the stolen funds is a testament to the agency's ability to trace blockchain transactions despite the sophisticated techniques used by cybercriminals, according to prosecutor Bender.
Økokrim worked in conjunction with the FBI and the US Department of Justice to track down the stolen digital assets. "We stand firm in our fight against digital criminals seeking profit," said Bender. "This money could have been used to support North Korea and their nuclear weapons program, so it is critical that we track these cryptocurrencies and attempt to stop them when they are withdrawn physically."
Sky Mavis, the creator of the Axie Infinity NFT game and Ronin Bridge, was informed of the arrest to ensure that affected users "receive the maximum possible compensation."